Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1887-02-18
AN OLIVE GROVE.
How Olive Raising Has Be-
come q California In dustry.
The Fruit Of the Mediterranean Now One
Of Americas Products.

"
Holy Scriptures, it can be ascertained
that the olive is one Of the oldest known
fruits. The Mount of Olives, near
Jerusalem, is famous in history. Long
before butter was known olive oil was
used in the preparation of food. Large
quantities Of the oil and fruit have from
time to time been imported here from
the shores Of the Mediterranean Sea,
whence most Of the product has been
obtained. The climate of California, not
being unlike that Of the Mediterranean,
was considered suitable for the growth
of the olive, and an experiment was
made which has proved successful. The
tree itself Is pretty and ornamental. In
spring time it is covered with pro
fusion Of white flowers, and in winter
has an evergreen foliage. When ready
for the harvest it is so prolific that the
branches bend under the weight of the
fruit. Olive wood is also beautiful,
and was chosen as parts of the orna-
mentation Of the spacious and magni-
fcent Solomon's temple. The oil is
considered by many as something
sacred. As such it is used in consccra
tions and coronations. The ancients
used the sprays Of olive leaves to crown
their great men, as it was believed to be
an emblem OF purity and peace. Il
was considered the highest honor to be
crowned with olive leaves. Ia time OF
war an olive branch borne in the hand
was a token of peace, and is even now
spoken of as such.
The olive tree lives for long time.
Some Of the trees on the Mount of Olives,
in Judea, are said to be fifteen feet in
diameter and over two thousand years
old, willie that in the Vatican at Rome
has record of over thousand years.
The olive is very hardy, and will endure
treatment which would kill other fruit
trees. If infected with insects the en-
tire head can lie cut off and thrown
away, while the trunk will sprout
again with renewed vigor. In Southern
California it has prospered beyond
expectation. Being sensitive to excess
i've heat or cold, its home is in the semi
tropical belt represented by the Pacific
slope Of the United States. It prospcrs
best near the sen, but can be cultivated
short distance inland. With ordinary
culture the olive in Europe will produce
over twenty gallons Of oil per acre, be-
sides allowing a large quantity of the
fruit to be used for eating. Although
yet in its infancy in this country, OK
perts have said that the oil produced in
California is equal to any which has
been imported. Growers say the Cali
fornian coast, from Point Conception 10
San Diego, is equal to that between
Geneva and Naples for the production
OF olives. The importations amount TO q
large sum annually, and if tho best olive
oil can, as it is claimed, be produced here
and in sufficient quantities, that produc,
will form an addition to the wealth Of the
United States. So far as the curing oil
the fruit is concerned, experience Is like
" to teach the proper treatment, as il
has with the raisin crop. The cuttings
Of two trees planted in 1876 yielded well
in 1884 1.-The ordinary time required fol
bearing being ten years. The crop 81
these two trees was then seventy-fiye
oallons nf frnit witch cold raad;l,, IL